348 The Farmer's Veterinary Adviser. 



overwork, sudden exposure to intense heat or suddenly 

 induced plethora will serve as immediate excitants of the 

 morbid process. It is pecuhar to no season but has not 

 been recognized in Europe. 



Symptoms. These are varied according to the case. 

 Some are seized abruptly with cramps of the voluntary 

 muscles, especially those of the neck and hind limbs, 

 which soon give place to general palsy — motor and sen- 

 sory. In other cases the onset is slow. There may be 

 trembling, duUness and lassitude for some hours or days, 

 or there may be some local paralysis, Hke that of the 

 throat or lips, incapacitating the animal from swallowing 

 liquids, or causing profuse slaveriug. But sooner or later, 

 in all cases alike, paralysis sets in and the animal is barely 

 able to support itself, or, if worse, lies prostrate on his side 

 with limbs extended and flaccid. If the case is to prove 

 fatal, coma and complete stupor usually precedes death. 

 If recovery ensues, appetite is often preserved throughout 

 and restoration of the general health precedes the disap- 

 pearance of the palsy, sometimes by several months. The 

 pulse throughout is little varied being usually slow and 

 soft at first, and weaker and more rapid as the disease 

 advances. Breathing, at first httle afi'ected, becomes deep 

 and stertorous as coma sets in. The surface temperature 

 is cool and that in the rectum usually natural. The bow- 

 els are generally costive and the urine unchanged and 

 may pass involuntarily. Tenderness of the spine may 

 sometimes be detected by percussion and will guide to 

 the precise seat of local disease. 



Treatment. The disease is very fatal, though varying 

 much in successive outbreaks. Excepting in cases oi 

 complete paralysis and coma the patient should be placed 

 in slings and have what laxative food (bran mashes, roots, 

 etc.,) he wiU take. Cold lotions (nitre and sal-ammoniac) 

 or bags of pounded ice and bran should be applied to the 

 spine, and hand-rubbing and mustard or other stimulating 

 embrocations, to the limbs. Copious injections of warm 



